UAE has not announced any official visa ban on Pakistan’s green passport holders, but tourist, visit and work visa approvals have dropped sharply. Rejection rate has crossed 80%, mainly due to fake documents, organised begging gangs, and security concerns. Existing visas remain valid.
Key Highlights
-
UAE tourist, visit and work visa rejection rate now 80%+
-
Impact mainly on green passport; blue and diplomatic passports unaffected
-
No official ban, but approvals extremely limited
-
UAE using AI-based document verification
-
Reasons: organised begging groups, fake certificates, overstays, trafficking
-
Over 1.5 million Pakistani expats may face long-term impact
UAE has started strict monitoring of new visa applications submitted by Pakistani citizens, especially those using the green (ordinary) passport. While UAE authorities confirm there is no blanket ban, the approval rate has dropped drastically since mid-2025. According to Pakistan’s Senate Committee, tourist, visit and work visa rejections have gone beyond 80%, creating serious concerns among families and job seekers.
Why has UAE increased restrictions?
In the last two years, UAE security agencies detected multiple issues linked to visitors arriving from Pakistan:
-
Organised begging and street-crime groups
-
Fake employment certificates and forged degrees
-
Drug trafficking and human smuggling attempts
-
High number of overstays
-
Repeated submission of fake documents in the visa system
To control this, UAE introduced mandatory Police Clearance Certificates in 2024. In 2025, AI-powered document-scanning systems have been added, which instantly detect fraudulent or suspicious applications—leading to automatic rejection.
Who is not affected?
-
Holders of official (blue) passports
-
Diplomatic passport holders
-
People who already have a valid UAE visa
Their visa applications continue to process normally.
What are authorities saying?
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Zaabi met Pakistan’s finance minister and confirmed there is no total ban. However, only applicants with strong documentation, proven financial background and clean travel history are being approved. UAE also plans to expand online processing through a new Visa Centre, but it will mainly support priority categories.
Pakistan’s Senate Committee chairperson Samina Zehri stated that “very few visas are currently being approved,” urging UAE to avoid a complete freeze.
Impact on Pakistani Expats
More than 1.5 million Pakistanis live in the UAE and send nearly PKR 1 trillion in annual remittances. The ongoing visa tightening may:
-
Slow down new recruitment
-
Increase unemployment in Pakistan
-
Reduce remittances
-
Create hardship for dependent families
Many Pakistani social-media users are claiming the UAE visa is “almost closed,” though officially no ban exists.
Summary Table
| Category | Current Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist/Visit Visa | 80%+ rejection | Strict AI verification |
| Work Visa | Very low approvals | Only strong profiles accepted |
| Blue Passport | Normal | No restrictions |
| Diplomatic Passport | Normal | Not affected |
| Existing UAE Visas | Valid | Until expiry |
FAQs
Q1. Is there an official UAE visa ban on Pakistan?
No, but approvals for green passport holders are extremely limited.
Q2. Are existing UAE visas still valid?
Yes, until their expiry date.
Q3. Why is the rejection rate so high?
Because UAE AI systems are detecting many fake or risky documents.
Q4. Can Pakistan resolve this issue?
Talks are ongoing; UAE suggests stronger verification from Pakistan’s side.
Q5. Are jobs for Pakistanis in UAE still open?
Yes, but new work visa approvals are rare.
